House passes school bus safety bill to governor

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- Lawmakers have sent to the governor a bill increasing penalties for failing to heed school bus warning devices.

Kadyn's law is named after Kadyn Halverson, a 7-year-old girl who was killed in May when she was hit by a pickup while walking toward a school bus in northern Iowa.

Failure to slow for a bus with flashing lights or stop when the stop arm is extended can result in fines up to $675 and 30 days in jail. The current fine is $200. Penalties increase with additional violations.

Causing serious injury brings a maximum fine of $500 and license suspension of up to 90 days. Causing a death doubles the penalties.

Representative Dennis Cohoon of Burlington says 625 people are convicted of school bus violations annually in Iowa.

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